Is this system worth the money?

[Loki1999]

Hi everybody.
Friend of mine got the system from this guys and keeps on raving on how grat deal he got and how great the system is (better then alienware - I doubt it! - but it is cheeper)
you can see the system here: http://voidstudios.net/void/index.cfm?fuseaction=game.main&navId=42&parentId=39

System Specs:

• Aluminum Color Case w/CHANNEL WELL 550W PS
• GigaByte GA 8KNXP Intel 875P Chipset 800/533 MHz FSB MB
• P4 3.06 GHz
• 2GB Micron PC 3200 DDR
• Dual 120GB 7200 R.P.M ATA 133 HD's on RAID L 0
• ITE GigaRaid Controller
• 12X DVD
• Internal 54x32x54x CD-RW
• ATI Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB DDR
• Thermaltake Crystal Orb W/ 8 Tin Coated Copper RAMsink
• Sound Blaster Audigy 2
• Sound Works Inspire 6600 6.1 Speaker System
• Intel®82547EI Gigabit Ethernet Controller
• MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP HOME EDITION
• 1 Year Warranty

Price: $2,558.40

If you could help me decide if it is worth it it would be great - or some suggestions? other companies/systems
Thanks

 

[Javic]

No thats way over priced. Try pricing out the individual components at <A HREF="http://jttp:///www.newegg.com" target="_new">www.newegg.com</A> and you'll see for yourself.

That ad is a bit misleading, making you think you're getting more than you actually are (individual component wise). The ITE GigaRaid Controller and Intel®82547EI Gigabit Ethernet Controller are built into the motherboard, so the site just makes it look like you're paying for more than you are. Also, the Motherboard has a pretty decent soundcard built in as well, so there's really no need for the Audigy 2.

I just built a P4 3.0GHz 800Mhz FSB ($110 more than the 533MHz 3.06GHz CPU) with the same motherboard, 1GB of Corsair XMS TwinX Low Latency RAM, 2 WD Special Edition 80GB drives (CompUSA has the <A HREF="http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=293303&pfp=home&cm_vn=cusa_5_4_03&cm_cat=Upgrades&cm_pla=hpf3&cm_ite=293303#checkstore" target="_new">WD 120GB SE's</A> on sale right now with rebate for same price I paid for my 80's), Antec True Power 480W PSU, ThermalRight SLK 800-U Heat Sink, Lite-On 52x CDRW, etc etc etc. Basically the only thing that I didn't buy is a video card, speakers, and a case. The case they list there is a chieftec case, you can get the same exact case without some of the fancy colorings for $65 on newegg. The VidCard is about $350, and those speakers are $96. On top of that, the 2GB memory they're listing is $40 cheaper than the 1GB of memory I bought.

I paid about $1500 for my stuff, and the cpu has already dropped about $50 in price. So if you add all that up..

$1500 - $110 for diff CPU - $40 for memory price diff = $1350
+ $65 for Case + $350 for Vid Card + $96 for the case
= $1861.

Still $700+ cheaper than what your friend paid. Basically he paid alot for "installation". It just goes to show you that it really does pay to do your homework before making an investment like that.

 

[papasmurf]

home edition? hahahahah I wouldn't run that on my system let alone pay for it. Windows server 2003 enterprise ed. 4 free via EDonkey but it is a nice system tho some would argue the effectiveness of a 2 drive raid o array

Treat your body like a $600 car. God didn't intend it to last so use it. Run it into the ground!<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by PapaSmurf on 05/04/03 08:35 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Loki1999]

I just priced this with them:

System Specs:

• Aluminum Color Case w/CHANNEL WELL 550W PS
• GigaByte GA 8KNXP Intel 875P Chipset 800/533 MHz FSB MB
• P4 3.06 GHz
• 1GB Micron PC 3200 DDR
• Dual 120GB 7200 R.P.M ATA 133 HD's on RAID L 0
• ITE GigaRaid Controller
• 12X DVD
• Internal 54x32x54x CD-RW
• ATI Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB DDR
• Sound Blaster Audigy 2
• Sound Works Inspire 6600 6.1 Speaker System
• Intel®82547EI Gigabit Ethernet Controller
• MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP PRO
• 1 Year Warranty

Price: $2,347.20

I don't want to mess with bulding My own computer - I jus want something good - does this system have what it takes?

 

[HardWareBoss]

Depends on what you want to do with your system. Since your buying Canterwood Mobo its upgradable. IE you can buy Prescott CPU Next year without spending big money on upgrade. I would use Windows 2000 Pro instead of XP. You have one heck of a computer there. If you can wait a week or so 2.4C $200 2.8 $300 That will save you some extra cash. Both chips are 800 FSB HT 3.06 533 FSB.

 

[Javic]

Did you not read my post? Please go back and actually READ it this time, and you'll see that I'm telling you that the site you're pricing those comps on is expensive. You could buy the components individually (as I stated in my previous email) and save yourself around $700. If you don't have the knowledge necessary to build a pc, you could try asking friends or a local shop to build it for you.

 

[Javic]

Actually, forget all my previous posts. Send me the $2,347 and I'll build the computer for you.

 

[tabytha77]

Not worth it.

 

[Prof133]

OK, I've done some research and this is what I came up with. Available through <A HREF="http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=800001" target="_new">Monarch Computer</A> custom configurator.

Case: Lian-Li PC-61 Black Aluminum $135.00
Motherboard: Abit IC7 (not the -G version) $169.00
Processor: Intel P4 478 3.00 GHz 800 FSB $549.00
Memory: 2 x 512MB PC3200 CAS2 Corsair CMX $214.00
Hard Drive: *Two* Western Digital 36GB 360GD Raptor SATA hard drives $318
RAID Setup: RAID 0 (Zero) $10.00
DVD: Lite-On 16x40x Black DVD $49.00 $49.00
CD-RW/DVD-RW: Lite-On 52x24x52 (Black) CD-RW $69.00
Floppy Drive: Mitsumi 3.5 Black Floppy Drive $19.00
Sound Card: Creative Labs Audigy 2 6.1 $124.00
Video Card: ATI (Tyan) G 9700 Pro 128 MB DDR $339.00
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition $89.00
Network Card: D-Link WOL 10/100 PCI $19.00
Power Supply: Enermax EG465P-FMA 460 Watt PS $95.00

<b>Total: $2,243.00</b>

Then you can move on to their accessories page and add mouse, keyboard, speakers and whatever.

* The non "-G" Abit IC7 I mentioned above doesn't include LAN so make sure to add a LAN card like I did in the above part list.

* The RAID 0 Raptor setup has less disk space than the one you mentioned in the original post but it is faster. Though, you could always add another hard drive if you run out of space.

* <i>Monarch Computer</i> is one of the top resellers.

 

[Ryan_Plus_One]

Not to mention that you'll have to pay tax and shipping. That would probably push you over the $2500 mark. Oh, the dream system I could build for $2500......

One advantage they have is that they probably offer some phone support and replacement warranty. If you build it yourself, the only support you will get is advice on message boards from jackasses like us. =P If you don't know what you're doing, you might want to buy from them.

 

[ultimate_vortex]

My lord, where do you all get your parts??? That is a great config, but even working with a hefty percentage for my commission, i come up with only 2199

Intel D875PBZ
Intel P4 3.06 (add approx $45 for the 800fsb)
2 - 512mb Cosair DDR3200 CL2
2 - 120gb 8mb Buffer Serial HD (raid 0)
1 - floppy
1 - 52x CDRW
1 - 16X DVD
1 - Creative Inspire 6.1 Speaker system
1 - Windows 2000 pro (add approx $10 for XP Pro)
1 - Chenming Xgamer Case (viewable on iopen.com) w/ 430watt (do you honestly need more??if so, we need to talk )
1 - GF4 Ti4600 128mb 8X card ( to go to ATI 9700 add approx $70)


to add microsoft optical mouse and keyboard add $30 bucks.

No if i'm full of baloey, lemme know...but it's hard to stomach the retail costs of things...yikes!!! I'm building my p4 system (i do animation and design) and currently working with a Quadro4 980XL card.

well, enough hammering. back to the board.

 

[Maverick494]

Ultimate Vortex.....looks like you left out the 200 dollar SB Audigy 2. I could be wrong.

Just a computer junky

 

[ultimate_vortex]

DOH! I did, but I was also thinking of the 6.1 sound offered on the PBZ, then realizing that my distributer cant get the oem version anymore..... but your cost for the 2 is around 145 bucks... but honestly, i dont notice a major diff from the audigy to the two, unless your using a speaker system like klipsch...anything else makes them both sound the same

Computer Nerd and Junky, self proclaimed.

"what would your father think, knowing you still have 1 meg 32pin sims in your closet?"

 

[ultimate_vortex]

hum...i must be taking too much wellbutrin i looked at my cost on the audigy2 and it's only a pultry 89 dollars. oh well. But i suppose, given everythign else, someone can find it cheaper.

"is that a pentium pro in your bag, or are you happy to see me??"